Accounting and Finance Foundations

Unit 1

Accounting and Finance Foundations Unit 1: Accounting Careers 76

Accounting Careers

3.1.10 Confidentiality Exercise

Read the article Understanding Value of Confidentiality in the Workplace (http://www.workplaceetiquette.

net/confidentiality_in_the_workplace/confidentiality_in_the_workplace.html).

Confidentiality is not only sometimes required by law but also necessary to have a healthy and trusting

school and work environment. It is important to understand what types of conversations are appropri-

ate and right to have. As the last sentence of the article states, “Keeping employee information safe is not

just the law but also the way to run a highly profitable business.” What works in business also works for a

school organization, sports team, band, or drama club.

Suppose you are in a play with a friend, and the friend shares personal information about a family mat-

ter that caused her to miss practice. However, the story she tells you is different than the story she tells

everyone else. How would you handle the situation? Make a list of reasons you think it would be a good

idea for you to share with others your friend’s “real story” about missing practice. Then, make another list

of reasons why you should keep the details that she told only you to yourself.

Write a short essay that answers the following questions:

How would you feel if the roles were reversed and your friend shared information about you with everyone

in the play? Would it be as much fun to be in the play if you knew that others knew something personal

about you? What if you knew that everything you shared with your friend would be shared with everyone

in the school? How can you apply what you have learned about confidentiality in your personal, school, and

work life?

Chapter 3

Student Assignment